Safiyyah’s question to the Prophet (SAW)

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Abul Hasan ‘Ali ibn Khalid al-Maraghi reported to me from Abul Qasim al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali al-Kufi, who reported from Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Marwan, who reported from his father, who reported from Masih ibn Muhammad, who reported from Abu ‘Ali ibn Abu Umrah al-Khurasani, from Ishaq ibn Ibrahim from Abu Ishaq al-Sabiee’, who said:

We called upon Masrooq ibn al-Ajda and found a guest who we did not know. They were having their meals; and then the guest observed that he was with the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, at Hunayn. Just as he said that, we knew he was a companion of the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny. He said:

Then Safiyyah, daughter of Hay ibn Akhtab (one of the wives of the Prophet) came to the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, and said: “O messenger of Allah, I am not like your other wives who have father, brother and uncle. If anything were to happen to you, to who do you entrust me?” The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, pointing at ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him said: “To him.”

Then he said: “May I not relate to you what al-Harith ibn al-A’awar narrated to us?” We said: “Please do.” He said: I called upon ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him and his progeny, and he asked: “O A’awar, what brings you here?” A’awar says he replied: “O Amirul Mu’mineen, your love has brought us.” He asked: “Really?”

I said: “Yes, Allah is my witness.” He confirmed with me three times. Then he said: “There is no slave of Allah who He has tested for piety, except that He finds our love in his heart; such a person indeed loves us. And there is no slave of Allah upon whom Allah has shown His displeasure, except that He finds our hatred in his heart, and such a person indeed hates us.

So, our friends always expect the divine mercy, and the gates of mercy are open for them. And our enemies are upon the edge of crumbling bank that will tumble down with them in to the fire of hell. Bounteous is the mercy for the people who earn it, and perdition is for the people of hell fire.”

Reference : Al-Amali, The Dictations of Shaykh al-Mufid